BMW Autobahn Society #79

Saturday, March 28, 2015

BMW is recalling nearly 49,000 motorcycles in the U.S. and Canada because flanges that hold the rear wheel can crack if bolts are too tight.

The recall covers multiple models including certain 2005-2010 R1200GS
and R1200RT motorcycles, as well as the 2006-2010 R1200GS Adventure and
the 2007-2010 R1200R, 2007 R1200S and K1200R Sport. Also included are
the 2005-2007 R1200ST, the 2008-2009 HP2 Megamoto, the 2006 HP2 Enduro,
the 2008-2010 HP2 Sport, and the 2005-2008 K1200S, 2006-2008 K1200R and
K1200GT. The recall also covers the 2009-2011 K1300S, 2010-2011 K1300R,
and the 2009-2010 K1300GT.

BMW says if bolts that hold the rear wheels to a flange are
over-tightened, the flange can crack. If that happens, the bolts can
loosen and the wheel may not stay secured to the bike.

The problem was discovered after a 2004 motorcycle crashed in Spain last August. BMW says the rider and passenger were bruised and scraped.

The recall is expected to begin April 21. Dealers will replace the aluminum flange with a steel one at no cost to owners.

A BMW spokesman says owners should check their rear wheel flanges for
cracks near the bolts. If there are none, the motorcycles are safe to
ride until recall repairs can be done.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

BMW
is recalling 367,000 motorcycles, including 43,425 units in the U.S.
alone, because of a problem with their rear wheel carrier flanges. The
recall affects K and R models produced from November 2003 to April 2011.
According to BMW, the rear wheel brake disc bolts or wheel nuts may
have received excessive torque during incorrectly-executed maintenance.
Tightening the bolts too much could result in cracks to the wheel
flange. BMW will replace the aluminum wheel flanges on affected
motorcycles with a stronger steel component. As of this writing, the recall has not yet been announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration but we expect to see one in the next week which will provide more information about the problem.

As
those of us who ride know, motorcycles and cars are completely
different animals. Each can be tamed, but the bikes tend to bite harder.
We, the operators, have the final say on the safety of our machines
prior to a ride. Without all the steel, belts, and bags of a car,
motorcyclists are more vulnerable to the dangers the modern roadway
throws at us. One way to even things out is to make sure our machines
are able to perform to their engineered capabilities, especially in the
handling and braking departments. One of the most basic ways to ensure a
motorcycle handles properly is to adjust the preload to a setting
appropriate to the weight that will be added to the bike.
The concept of preload is simple. Motorcycles, unlike cars, don’t
tend to weigh too much more than their operators. A 200-pound man in a
3800-pound car is one-twentieth of their combined weight of 4000 pounds.
A 200-pound man on a 600-pound motorcycle is one-fourth of the total
weight (800 pounds) of both rolling down the street. Manufacturers take
this into consideration and the bike should still handle well. Now, put
that guy’s 250-pound girlfriend and gear combo on the back (Sturgis
anyone?) and the total weight is 1,050 pounds. The suspension is now
under a load that is over two-thirds the weight of the bike alone.
Someone might want to let the suspension know this prior to pulling into
traffic. Preload adjusts the suspension to compensate for the larger
load. (Motorcycle engineers are awesome!) Typically, an adjustable
mechanism compresses the spring that surrounds the shock slightly,
making it “stiffer.” The result is that the suspension is better able to
handle the forces applied by the added weight. A further benefit is the
geometry of the motorcycle is kept nearer to its ideal position.The
motorcycle’s geometry is important to operational safety. In a
situation where a bike is loaded heavily to the rear, one will likely
end up with a front-high, tail-low posture. Shining your headlight off
the road and into the trees, or into the eyes of some 16-year-old coming
at you on his first night out with his shiny new license may be a
concern. If not, there are other factors to ponder.
Maneuvering and braking performance in this circumstance will suffer,
especially in an emergency. Relatively little braking power comes from
the rear wheel, yet much of the overall mass would be situated nearer
that point. The forks would have to load up (compress) prior to the
front tire traction being sufficient to accommodate the braking forces
necessary during an emergency stop. That takes valuable time and
distance. In an evasive turning maneuver, the front tire could be more
susceptible to “washing out” due to the aforementioned lessened handling
characteristics when trying to change the direction of all that
rearward mass. Braking and swerving involve the dynamic changing of
speed and direction, otherwise known as a vector. This can spell
double-barrel havoc in those moments when you need every ounce of help
you can get. In an emergency you don’t need your bike working against
you. Having the bike sitting properly really helps level the playing
field (pun intended).
Leveling the bike means looking up front sometimes as well. Some
motorcycles, such as BMW’s, have preload adjustment in the front
suspension. The ability to adjust the front suspension translates into
improved handling. But, not every bike is designed for preload to be
adjusted easily up front. Sometimes the only way to adjust the forks for
load is to change-out the fork springs or even the entire forks,
usually, this is done as an upgrade by those who know they’ll be riding
heavy a lot of the time. However, more and more manufacturers are
allowing for the adjustment of rebound and compression both up front and
in back. These adjustments address how the suspension responds moving
into and out of a loaded condition.
Remember, be it riding solo, two-up, laden with gear, or whatever
combination thereof, adjusting the preload on a motorcycle can help it
handle better and more safely. Folks who are unfamiliar should consult
their owner’s manual on adjusting the suspension settings for their
specific machines. Dealerships, mechanics, and even online tutorials can
provide valuable insight and instruction for proper suspension setup.
Don’t be afraid to adjust and readjust to your liking. Make adjusting
the preload part of your pre-ride check. Make it a habit.Text and Photography: Charles Neeley

For decades BMW's motorcycles
were easily identified by the two opposed cylinders sticking out of
each side of the bike. While you can still find this layout on some of
its products, these days the company also uses a variety of other
layouts, depending on the model line. Based on European patents, there
might even be a Bimmer in the ranks eventually with an absolutely
bizarre-looking W3 configuration.

BMW
actually has two separate patents on these W3 designs, and both of them
have the goal of cramming three cylinders into the space of a
traditional V-twin. The first splays the cylinder out into a fan shape
with pushrods operating the valves. The description submitted to
the World Intellectual Property Organization describes the solution as,
"The embodiment according to the invention represents an as of yet
unknown type of W-3 reciprocating piston internal combustion engine
having cylinder angles which can be largely freely sized."

The other solution is more of a modification to the traditional V-twin. Two of the cylinders share a crankpin, but the third has its own and is positioned inside the angle of the V. It's a very odd-looking engine.

With BMW's assertion that these designs are meant to fit in place of a traditional V-twin, Jalopnikspeculates that they could be for a future cruiser from the company,
and that would make sense. While brand offers a line of sport tourers
with the K1600 line, it doesn't have something more classic to take on
the likes of the Ducati Diavel. Creating such a weird engine would probably grab early interest from riders.

I just wanted to take a minute and remind you of the festivities coming up at my store so take a look and put it on your calendar now so you don't miss out.

Friday and Saturday March 27th and 28th we will have discounts on all parts, accessories and apparel both in stock and special order. You will receive 10% off on all your purchases up to $500 and if you spend more than that you will get 15% off. So make sure you get your list ready. Look at the catalogs at http://www.bakmc.com/catalog.php?cat=street to check out all sorts of cool new stuff.

There will also be some great sale prices on all of the bikes we have in stock. With the current programs that could mean a discount of up to $2500 if you qualify for all of them. That is some serious savings.

We will also be demo riding bikes. We will have the following bikes available for test rides:

Victory:VisionCross Country TourCross CountryGunner

BMW:R1200GS AdventureF800RF700GSR1200RT

KTM:1190R Adventure690 Duke

We will also be serving lunch on Saturday starting at about 11:00 am.

Get ready for a great time and a great riding season. It's gonna be a fantastic year!

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

The 17th Century National Trust plantation house at Springhill, just a
stone's throw from TAS Racing's headquarters in Moneymore, was the
perfect venue to launch this year's Tyco BMW International Road Racing
team of Guy Martin and William Dunlop for the 2015 Isle of Man TT Races
fuelled by Monster Energy.

Both men will open their account on the all-new Tyco BMW Motorrad
machinery during a scheduled test in Spain next month, riding alongside
their British championship team-mates Michael Laverty, Tommy Bridewell
and Alastair Seeley.

Martin said of the new venture by TAS Racing and his stable of Tyco BMW
Motorrad machinery for this season: "I always give one hundred percent
effort, no matter what I'm doing but I'm not going to make any stupid
predictions for the year ahead. I'm confident that the Tyco BMW Motorrad
bikes will make all the difference this year. It really does look mint.

"People have been asking questions about the retirement story that was
in the press, but all I'm interested in is going to the TT and trying to
win on this new bike. I'll only start to think about what I'm doing
after that when I'm on the boat home."

On his pre-season preparations Martin added: "I wouldn't even consider
turning up if I wasn't fully prepared. It's not about money for me, or
waving at the crowd and picking up cheques. Stuff that. I go to the TT
to try and win and I believe with the same effort as before, and with
these guys behind me, the Tyco BMW will be good enough for the job. I
will be well prepared and after that what-will-be will-be."

His team-mate for a second consecutive season will be William Dunlop, an
international Superbike winner with TAS Racing and Tyco last year at
the North West 200. The Ballymoney man does his talking on track, but
did say of the new BMW Motorrad machinery.

"Yeah I just love the look of the new bike, and if it goes as well as it
looks then we are in for a good year. I enjoy working with Guy; he's
great craic and we had fun working together last year. To win a TT is
the main goal for us both and on these new S1000RR bikes both in
Superbike and Superstock trim - we shouldn't be too far away."

Team Manager Philip Neill concluded: "It was worth the extra effort
getting two bikes prepared and what a setting we have in Springhill
House, right here on our doorstep. It was great to get Guy and William
together for the shoot, and the next step is to get them out on track in
Spain in the next couple of weeks. Both are looking fit and well and
like the BSB boys, they can't wait to get their first run on the Tyco
BMW S1000RR. There's a lot of hard work still to do, but there's also a
lot of excitement in our camp for the year ahead."

About Us

A BMW motorcycle club founded in 1977 currently with about 70 members who enjoy the sport and camaraderie of motorcycle touring, and have a passion for the BMW brand.
President: Marlin Wolter//
Treasurer: Dale Nordlie//
Newsletter editor: Mary Hawes